Pastor column: Understanding the power of overcoming faith
The apostle John declares, “Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind]” (1 John 4:4 Amplified).
Martin Luther, once said, “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.”
To understand the power of our faith, we must remember our perception of God and His promises are essential in shaping our lives. Understanding the power of our faith is a process that every believer is on, a journey as overcomers.
Being an overcomer isn’t about being perfect or never having tough times. No, it's about embracing the power of God that’s within us. Remember: “He [God] who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). This means God’s power in you is greater than any challenge, adversity, temptation that you will face.
Rely on God's strength, surrender struggles
You are not alone. God’s with you. His power is within you. This truth gives you the confidence to face your challenges head-on, knowing you’re not relying on your own strength but on the strength of God.
Relying on God's strength means surrendering your struggles, your fears and your anxieties to Him. It means trusting in Him. It's about letting go of your need to control and allowing God to lead you.
Overcoming faith is about holding onto God's promises, even when circumstances seem to contradict them. It's about choosing to believe in God's faithfulness and goodness even when life is hard. It changes everything. It gives you a new perspective, a new strength, a new hope. It empowers you to overcome, not because you’re strong but because “you are of God and you belong to Him."
Overcoming faith is living out your faith in practical ways. It's not just about believing in God, but it’s about living in a way that displays our belief. It's about making a difference in the world, not in your own strength but in the strength of God.
It’s a demonstration, not a destination. It's a process of growing, learning and becoming more like Jesus. It's about embracing the power of God in you and allowing that power to transform you from the inside out. It's about living a life of faith, hope, love and victory because of who you are and because of who God is in you.
Understanding the power of overcoming faith ? let's remember that God who is in us is greater than the enemy who is in the world. We are overcomers. We actively live in the power of overcoming faith, not because of our own strength but because of the power of God in us. Let's walk in this truth in our hearts. Let it guide our steps and let it shape our lives.
Rev. J. Patrick Street is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Marion. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: God who is with us is greater than the enemy who is in the world
